Chapter One Hundred and fifteen

Damien's POV;

Dinner was eventful. The way I poured my feelings into those statements was something I never thought would happen, especially not in that manner.

I was relieved now that she had heard how I felt but I didn't know if I had made things right or just worsened it all. It was tiring to think about.

I turned at the sound of loud laughter. It was the cheerful laughter of all the women that mattered in my life. They all seemed to be gushing over Tracy's baby bump. She was due in some weeks and that excited each and everyone especially my mother who had been pushing for a grandchild for a pretty long time. I was thankful that Tracy had relieved me of the burden.

I glanced at Ariana, briefly eyeing her outfit that showed off so much class. Looking at her, not just any man could walk up to her in a bid to shoot his shot. He had to think deeply before making that move.

Almost as if she felt my gaze on her, she looked up and I instinctively directed my eyes away from her before she could notice me staring.

"There's the man of the hour."

"How's it going dude?" I said giving a bro hug to Aiden.

"It's all good. The night has been really good, I'm more than glad that you're perfectly fine now." He said giving me a glimpse of his perfect dentition.

"I'm glad too. It feels good to be alive." I said as I took one last gulp from the content in my glass.

"Your argument with Ariana was er, unexpected." He faked a cough.

"I don't even know how to reply to that." I said.

"Did you try apologizing?" He inquired, subtly glancing behind me.

"I did..."

"So, what happened?"

I walked in on her naked, I wanted to say.

"Something crazy did." I said with a controlled sigh.

"Okay, I guess you'll have your chance."

I frowned in question.

"What are you talking about?"

"She's coming this way." He subtly gestured to her.

I took a glance behind me and saw her approaching us. I panicked and scuttled off to meet with some business associates and was engaging in some light chatter when I felt her by my side.

"Hey babe." I felt her touch my arm. I hid my surprise at the pet name so well in a blank face.

"Hey." I said bac,k noticing from the corner of my eye, that the three men in front of me had their eyes glued to my wife. I possessively put an arm around her waist.

"Hello gentlemen." She curtsied to them.

"A pleasant evening to the woman who has mercilessly captured the heart of the world's coldest billionaire business mogul."

"Derek..." I called out, fighting back a chuckle. Derek Lopez, the king of crypto had a sugar coated tongue that always seemed to win women over or maybe it was the money but either way, he could win anyone over. Maybe that was why Brianna had been around him since the beginning of the evening.

Ariana let out a giggle while I had them formally introduced before she turned to me again.

"I got you a refill." She gently said, handing over another glass of red wine to me.

"Thank you." I politely said while I took the glass.

She leaned closer, placed a palm on my chest area and dropped a tender peck on my cheek with a indecipherable grin perched on her face before excusing herself. Her actions left me puzzled. What had gotten into this woman?

I didn't realize my eyes had followed her until Derek snapped his fingers in my face.

"I think we'll leave you two to it before you jump each other right in front of everyone." He teased.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"I saw that look man," he wiggled his eyebrows as a knowing smirk crowded his tanned face.

"You're crazy." I muttered with a shake of my head, wondering what kind of friends I had around me.

With all the dining and wining done and over with, guests soon started leaving one after the other until there was no one left and it was time to retire for the night.

"What a night..." I heard mom sigh out.

"Good night you guys!" Fiona quipped looking like she could sleep on anything at the moment.

"Yeah good night you two." Mom said.

"Where's Jesse?" Ariana askedm

"He should be around here somewhere." Mom said dismissively and gave us quick hugs before retiring for the night.

I mounted the stairs, taking one step at a time, feeling Ariana by my side but no words were said.

Just as I was about going into my room and she into hers, she called out to me. I paused but said nothing in response.

My hands were stuck on the knob as I turned to look at her and hear what she had to say.

She pushed strands of her hair behind her ear and wrung her fingers together as she stared down at her feet.

"I'm," she bit on her upper lip and looked up at me with doe eyes.

"I'm sorry for hurting your feelings. I didn't realize how mucg I've hurt you up until tonight. I'm sorry."

I listened to her speak and after all that, I just stayed still, staring at her. I didn't know what to say or do and I knew she was expecting me to say something but my dumbass self kept mute and walked into my bedroom. I guess we could call this revenge.

****

Ariana's POV;

Damien walked away, leaving me alone with my thoughts. In all honesty, I expected him to stay with me, to speak to me, accept my apology at least. But he left me out there and it hurt me so bad.

I kept looking back at his door hoping he would come out as I crossed over to my room. He didn't.

I wrapped my arms around me as I walked into my room. I sulkily changed out of my clothes and wrapped my hair up before tucking it into the bonnet.

Mico was crouched on my bed looking like he felt the same way as me - sad.

He whimpered and drew nearer to cuddle me.

"Thanks buddy." I said as I curved myself into a ball in hopes that the warm hands of sleep would draw me in.

***

"Mico!" I exclaimed as my pooch woke me up by licking furiously on my face.

"What's getting you so excited so early in the morning?" I giggled as I carried him up. He had his tail wagging excitedly.

"Someone surely is in a good mood today." I placed him on the floor and went over to the bathroom to brush my teeth.

I rinsed my face and let my hair down, running my hands through it. Then, I heard a slight knock and kept still. An excited bark from Mico got me out of the bathroom.

"What is it boy?" I asked when I saw him struggling with the door.

"Hold on, maybe it's Fiona." I thought aloud. Mico and Fiona seemed to have formed a bond within the short time they had been together so I wouldn't be surprised if he barked because she was behind the door

I opened the door and my smile dissolved.

"Can I come in?"

"Yeah sure."

He sidestepped me and walked in.

"Mico, it's not Fiona." I said as his tail wagging wouldn't stop.

It was barely a second after my statement that he jumped on Damien who had made himself comfortable on my bed.

"Whoa!" I heard him say as held Mico up to stop him from licking on his face.

"Ariana get it." He groaned out looking like he wanted to run away.

"I think he likes you." I giggled and picked up my phone to take a picture.

"Ariana..." He glared in warning.

"Ugh fine. Mico let Mr Grumpy pants be." I sarcastically said and took my pup away from him.

Awkward silence soon enveloped the room reminding me off how we were going through another one of our rough patches.

"Er erm." He folded his fist over his mouth as he cleared his throat, signifying the beginning of a speech.

"We've had a lot going on for a while and it's been a lot to take in all at once. We've been so petty with each other and that's obviously childish. That said, I'm sorry for ignoring you yesterday, I was just overwhelmed by everything."

I listened to his speech with a blank face but with relief flooding my heart.

"Babe," he stood up. I almost wanted to burst into happy tears when he called me that, it had been so long since I heard him say it. He held my hands in his while I looked up at his face.

"Let's start over. I want to win your heart, you deserve to be wooed and loved properly by a man who would work his way up to it. That's what I want do, I want to show you how much I love you. I want you to know that I mean it. Would you give me a chance?"

His words made my heart swell in pride. This was such a change from what he used to be. This was what I had always wanted from the beginning and if he was willing to give it to me, I was going to give him a chance.

I nodded repeatedly trying to hold back the several emotions that ran through me all once.

"Yes." I breathed out. I didn't wait for his reply and just went in for a hug.

He held me close and placed his chin on the center of my head.

"Thank you. I won't let you down this time babe, I promise." He said, sounding utterly sincere.

Please don't, I thought as I basked in the manly scent of his cologne.